N95 mask advice

[bthornt]

First, I suppose I could have posted this in the current Covid 19 thread, but since I have questions specific to the N95 mask, I thought I would start a new thread.

Since I'm not a medical professional, I have no experience with these masks. Today, in an act of incredible kindness, a friend gave me one of these masks. It was purchased at home depot, and it says NIOSH N95.

Question 1: Are all N95 masks the same? In other words, is the type of N95 mask used in medical applications the same as this mask, NIOSH N95?

Question 2: Probably the most important question, I want to maximize the life of the mask subject to the constraint that I want to keep it effective in protecting me. Which means, I want to clean it and disinfect it. I have a UV light device that I use to disinfect my CPAP equipment, but I've heard mixed things about this approach, in particular I have seen reports (I think here, but other places as well) that this can cause the mask to deteriorate. But, I saw that Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville disinfects masks with this procedure.

I also saw on youtube that you can steam the mask and spray it with alcohol. I have a steamer that I use to steam vegetables, so I guess I could steam the mask, and it seems that this would be effective but it also seems like it could be damaging.

Any other thoughts, comments, suggestions pertaining to using, cleaning, and disinfecting the mask would be greatly appreciated. Or any other information that you might think I should know.

Got to make this thing last. I only plan on using it at the grocery store, but who knows how long this is going to last.

Thanks in advance.

[slowpoke]

1. N95 just means it can filter out particles of a certain size. Masks differ in how they fit your face (seal) and some have an exhaust valve, while others don't.

2. re: sanitizing for reuse, there are researchers who've ran tests and published guidance:

- https://www.n95decon.org/ (scroll down to fact sheets, I've also attached them here)

- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/decontamination-reuse-respirators.html

Lastly, a cloth mask or even a bandana will be better than nothing in helping slow the potential spread of the virus.

[Spdntrxi]

1. 95 refers to being about to filter out 95% of particles to a given size.. so yes
2. UV will definitely make it deteriorate faster.. who know how the other layers within the mask will tolerate the UV.. in other words there is potential for it worse on the inside layers then outside.

I'd probably try to steam it.(but not a veg steamer). the virus does not live long on soft surfaces from the data I have seen.. it lives much longer on hard surfaces (metal and such)
I have one of those steamers with a gun that you see in infomercials.. works wonder on kitchen tile. Still wouldn't last long anyways

you dont need n95.. you can use a lessor one. Anything is better then nothing. The main point is wash your hands often and dont touch things.(then touch your face)

[Spdntrxi]

slowpoke images updates tell the story...

[Spdntrxi]

makes me wonder if a few seconds in a microwave would do ... granted the mask would have to be zero metal...if you have the plastic filter kind it could be bad obviously.

[HenryA]

158 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.

https://utrf.tennessee.edu/information-faqs-performance-protection-sterilization-of-face-mask-materials/

Does not promise result on viruses. There is no real test on that yet, but this guy knows more about how these masks work than almost anyone. Most importantly, this article shows you what not to do.

A typical industrial mask has a valve to allow easier exhale and does not filter the exhale.

[jischr]

As others said the N95 is the filtering efficiency designation. NIOSH designation means the manufacturer submitted samples to testing agencies for performance against NIOSH performance criteria and passed.

A big deal – N95 respirators as shown on all the media are disposables. None are made to be reused day to day. The intention is to wear them into a hazardous area for X hours, come out, and throw the used one away and pick up a new one. Reusable respirators have elastomeric face pieces and filter elements that attach to the face piece. The elastomeric bit is washed and the filters replaced with new. None of the N-95 respirators I’ve ever seen were designed to be decontaminated.

A second big deal for others. Some N-95 respirators have an exhalation valve on the front. If yours has a valve keep in mind that you are protecting no one from your exhalation vapor. So if you are ill I suggest not going in public with that style of respirator.

If you intend to use an N-95, please shave your face daily so a seal can be made to your skin as designed to comply with NIOSH. A couple days hair and definitely a beard will make it useless. Once comfortable on your face push the aluminum band down on the bridge of your nose and cheek to get the seal in that area. If you inhale or exhale and can feel air anywhere escaping along the seal you need to reposition it until the air stops.

Personnally if I were to try deconning an N-95 disposable, I’d use hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and soak that sucker. Put it in a zip lock for an hour, then take it out and let it dry over night. In the morning I'd blow through it or swing the element around to move air through the fibers before breathing through it.

[Louis]

A typical industrial mask has a valve to allow easier exhale and does not filter the exhale.

In a related matter:

I have an LL Bean neck-warmer, which is made of a relatively thin synthetic material, probably polyester. It looks a lot like the image below. Last night, just for kicks I put it on around my neck then raised it up to cover my nose and mouth, to see what it would be like to have something like that on. (I don't have any bandannas or other similar stuff to test.)

I didn't try anything through my mouth, only my nose. Within a few breaths it felt like the lower part of my face was in an oven, and I began to wonder how I could possibly get enough fresh air / oxygen in. I don't see how anyone could exercise or do anything more than low-level exertion with something as basic as a bandanna on, unless you made it of one or two layers of cheesecloth, which would render it useless as a filter.

I think I have some super-basic masks around in the garage, which I got to keep sawdust out, but I don't know how effective those would be either.

Bottom line, I don't see how anyone could wear a fabric home-made mask while exercising or even just walking at a good clip.

https://www.rei.com/media/198a946c-7696-461b-986c-e6b02f05054f?size=512x682

[bthornt]

I plan on using the mask rarely, maybe once a week for about an hour - specifically, a weekly trip to the grocery store.

If I just hung it up for a week, without doing anything, would the virus just expire without me doing anything?

The UT article mentioned above says hot air is effective in eliminating the virus while maintaining the filtering ability of the mask. I suppose this is a dumb question, but has anyone ever looked into freezing the mask? Would that kill the virus and maintain the filtering properties?

According to this UT article, the filtering ability of the mask is dependent upon the electric charge of the media in the middle. Would freezing the mask (or chilling it) affect the electric charge? Would it kill the virus?

Incidentally, I think the best thing about this forum is the wealth of knowledge, freely dispensed, of the members. In all areas, not just those related to cycling. I think this thread is a good example of this attribute.

[JAGI410]

Bottom line, I don't see how anyone could wear a fabric home-made mask while exercising or even just walking at a good clip.



You must live somewhere warm! I wear a balaclava or buff over my mouth and nose for most of my winter riding from 20F to -30F. I'm so used to the restriction that it's no big deal. You'll get used to it.

[SoCalSteve]

To the OP and anyone else...please check out this video. He is a frontline ICU doctor in NYC working at a very prestigious hospital.

Hope this helps. It’s long, but watch all of it. It’s all very informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YitWZj9QhdQ

[Veloo]

Wonder if magic marker would compromise the masks at all.
Was thinking this could be a bit of a time killer for the kids while at home and also make the masks a bit more attractive to them to wear.

[zmalwo]

n95 masks filter out 95% of all particles. If you don't seal it tight against your face any mask is useless. If you are really worried then I would get a military gas mask covering all of your mucus membranes including your eyes while ensuring a 100% seal around your face. You will look odd but that's the bomb proof way against the virus.

[HenryA]

I plan on using the mask rarely, maybe once a week for about an hour - specifically, a weekly trip to the grocery store.

If I just hung it up for a week, without doing anything, would the virus just expire without me doing anything?

The UT article mentioned above says hot air is effective in eliminating the virus while maintaining the filtering ability of the mask. I suppose this is a dumb question, but has anyone ever looked into freezing the mask? Would that kill the virus and maintain the filtering properties?

According to this UT article, the filtering ability of the mask is dependent upon the electric charge of the media in the middle. Would freezing the mask (or chilling it) affect the electric charge? Would it kill the virus?

Incidentally, I think the best thing about this forum is the wealth of knowledge, freely dispensed, of the members. In all areas, not just those related to cycling. I think this thread is a good example of this attribute.

Probably just hanging it up would be OK but we're all speculating. I'd go with heat in the oven - everything dead. And if you did it as soon as you got home, in 30 minutes there is no living CV in your house. And its ready to go if you need it sooner than you planned.

[SoCalSteve]

n95 masks filter out 95% of all particles. If you don't seal it tight against your face any mask is useless. If you are really worried then I would get a military gas mask covering all of your mucus membranes including your eyes while ensuring a 100% seal around your face. You will look odd but that's the bomb proof way against the virus.

Or you could just wash your hands and not touch your face...:eek:

[stackie]

N95 mask will block 95% of particles greater than .3 microns.

Covid-19 is .1 micron but usually moves in aerosolized particles from 0.5 microns to 3 microns.

In the hospital we actually do fit testing to ensure the n95 actually fits properly and does not allow unfiltered air to enter around the edges with inhalation. If it doesn’t fit properly, it’s not effective.

We don’t have enough n95 masks in hospital to use them as recommended. So, many of us re use them as best we can with no real guidance from above other than we don’t recommend reusing. I store mine in a paper bag and hope that is good enough. Fortunately, since I work in a high risk profession intubating patients which is one of the most aerosolizing procedures performed in a hospital, we have PAPR hoods available which pump HEPA filtered air into the hood forcing air out around. These are thankfully reusable. Not many hospitals have these.

We really don’t have good evidence of what is really necessary. However, a person under investigation in one of the Asian countries early in the pandemic was cared for by 41 health care professionals using only a regular surgical mask (not n95) with the exception of anesthesiologist who used n95 for intubation. All used good hand hygiene. None of the health care professionals tested positive.

IMHO, the standard surgical mask works well to prevent you from aerosolizing your airway secretions onto others and nearby objects. Wear one to protect others. Help yourself by washing hands frequently and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands. You’re going to get COVID from touching that package of chicken in Trader Joe’s that someone else contaminated before you got there. Maybe they coughed on it. Maybe they touched their mouth and touched it. The virus is there. Wash your freaking hands.

Please leave the n95 masks for your local health care professionals who have to spend hours in a room with a COVID positive patient who is coughing frequently and aerosolizing COVID into the room,

Bottom line, if you’ve got an used n95, fine re use it. If it’s new in package take it to the local hospital. They need it more than you. You can use a basic mask or even a bandana to minimize your aerosolizing of particles. Again, just wash your freaking hands.

And, yes, if you feel eyes burning holes in your head when your out with that n95, it’s probably the doctor or nurse who wishes they had an appropriate supply to use at work.

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

Jon

[Tony]

In a related matter:

I have an LL Bean neck-warmer, which is made of a relatively thin synthetic material, probably polyester. It looks a lot like the image below. Last night, just for kicks I put it on around my neck then raised it up to cover my nose and mouth, to see what it would be like to have something like that on. (I don't have any bandannas or other similar stuff to test.)

I didn't try anything through my mouth, only my nose. Within a few breaths it felt like the lower part of my face was in an oven, and I began to wonder how I could possibly get enough fresh air / oxygen in. I don't see how anyone could exercise or do anything more than low-level exertion with something as basic as a bandanna on, unless you made it of one or two layers of cheesecloth, which would render it useless as a filter.

I think I have some super-basic masks around in the garage, which I got to keep sawdust out, but I don't know how effective those would be either.

Bottom line, I don't see how anyone could wear a fabric home-made mask while exercising or even just walking at a good clip.

https://www.rei.com/media/198a946c-7696-461b-986c-e6b02f05054f?size=512x682

I wonder if your claustrophobic? As I don't have this issue while going hard with a buff pulled over my mouth and nose.

[bthornt]

N95 mask will block 95% of particles greater than .3 microns.

Covid-19 is .1 micron but usually moves in aerosolized particles from 0.5 microns to 3 microns.

In the hospital we actually do fit testing to ensure the n95 actually fits properly and does not allow unfiltered air to enter around the edges with inhalation. If it doesn’t fit properly, it’s not effective.

We don’t have enough n95 masks in hospital to use them as recommended. So, many of us re use them as best we can with no real guidance from above other than we don’t recommend reusing. I store mine in a paper bag and hope that is good enough. Fortunately, since I work in a high risk profession intubating patients which is one of the most aerosolizing procedures performed in a hospital, we have PAPR hoods available which pump HEPA filtered air into the hood forcing air out around. These are thankfully reusable. Not many hospitals have these.

We really don’t have good evidence of what is really necessary. However, a person under investigation in one of the Asian countries early in the pandemic was cared for by 41 health care professionals using only a regular surgical mask (not n95) with the exception of anesthesiologist who used n95 for intubation. All used good hand hygiene. None of the health care professionals tested positive.

IMHO, the standard surgical mask works well to prevent you from aerosolizing your airway secretions onto others and nearby objects. Wear one to protect others. Help yourself by washing hands frequently and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands. You’re going to get COVID from touching that package of chicken in Trader Joe’s that someone else contaminated before you got there. Maybe they coughed on it. Maybe they touched their mouth and touched it. The virus is there. Wash your freaking hands.

Please leave the n95 masks for your local health care professionals who have to spend hours in a room with a COVID positive patient who is coughing frequently and aerosolizing COVID into the room,

Bottom line, if you’ve got an used n95, fine re use it. If it’s new in package take it to the local hospital. They need it more than you. You can use a basic mask or even a bandana to minimize your aerosolizing of particles. Again, just wash your freaking hands.

And, yes, if you feel eyes burning holes in your head when your out with that n95, it’s probably the doctor or nurse who wishes they had an appropriate supply to use at work.

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

Jon

I absolutely understand how you feel. Someone did give it to me, I didn't buy it, and the person gave it to me in a zip-lock bag, I think it came from a multiple unit package. Not sure if a hospital would still consider it sterile.

[slowpoke]

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

Stop Yelling Out the Window. Just Give Doctors the Masks You’re Hoarding (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/opinion/coronavirus-doctors-hoarding.html)

[CNY rider]

First, I suppose I could have posted this in the current Covid 19 thread, but since I have questions specific to the N95 mask, I thought I would start a new thread.

Since I'm not a medical professional, I have no experience with these masks. Today, in an act of incredible kindness, a friend gave me one of these masks. It was purchased at home depot, and it says NIOSH N95.

Question 1: Are all N95 masks the same? In other words, is the type of N95 mask used in medical applications the same as this mask, NIOSH N95?

Question 2: Probably the most important question, I want to maximize the life of the mask subject to the constraint that I want to keep it effective in protecting me. Which means, I want to clean it and disinfect it. I have a UV light device that I use to disinfect my CPAP equipment, but I've heard mixed things about this approach, in particular I have seen reports (I think here, but other places as well) that this can cause the mask to deteriorate. But, I saw that Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville disinfects masks with this procedure.

I also saw on youtube that you can steam the mask and spray it with alcohol. I have a steamer that I use to steam vegetables, so I guess I could steam the mask, and it seems that this would be effective but it also seems like it could be damaging.

Any other thoughts, comments, suggestions pertaining to using, cleaning, and disinfecting the mask would be greatly appreciated. Or any other information that you might think I should know.

Got to make this thing last. I only plan on using it at the grocery store, but who knows how long this is going to last.

Thanks in advance.

I think you should find someone in a medical role who needs one and give it to them.
Here are the reasons why:
1. You don't even know if that mask fits you. If it doesn't, it's not of any value to you.
2. You haven't worn an N95 before, so you don't know how incredibly uncomfortable they get, and how they increase your work of breathing.
That's going to lead to you reaching up and adjusting it and tugging at it multiple times during your grocery trip. Or even worse taking it on and off multiple times in an improper way.
All that touching of your face and your mask is going to increase your odds of getting the virus.
3. There's a doctor, a nurse, a paramedic or firefighter who lives in your neighborhood that really needs it more than you do.

Perhaps you could ask the friend who gave you the mask if they could pick up some groceries for you?

Be well.

[Veloo]

There are a number of businesses and civilians making cloth masks and some with a pocket for some sort of filter insert. This is just one example up here north of the border (no affiliation). There must be ones in the US as well.
https://www.takecaresupply.com/collections/masks

There are also many DIY videos on youtube as well from paper towels, to furnace filters, to vacuum hepa filter bags, to sewing cloth masks. There are some that require no sewing and just use elastic bands.

I did call 3M to ask about the use of a high end Filtrete furnace filter as a mask but their response was as expected - we never tested for this so we cannot comment despite the rise in this type of inquiry.
I guess one could argue that if you're using them in your furnace at home then you run a very similar rise by using it as some form of mask.

In my opinion, N95 is overkill for grocery shopping in these covid times.

[soulspinner]

Hell of a lot of good info here......

[Irishgirl]

Hell of a lot of good info here......


+ 1


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[Irishgirl]

Picked one of these from Rapha a few years ago and use on and off the bike.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200404/f7bf996293711eae476757b6cb2689a9.jpg


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[C40_guy]

I plan on using the mask rarely, maybe once a week for about an hour - specifically, a weekly trip to the grocery store.

If I just hung it up for a week, without doing anything, would the virus just expire without me doing anything?

I posted a link to an article (https://www.sages.org/n-95-re-use-instructions/) in another thread. The inventor of the technology behind the mask suggested that simply hanging the mask in a warm dry environment for a couple of days is fine. Washing the mask or using UV light, or sunlight, will compromise the electrostatic process that causes the mask to work.

Skip the bleach, the oven heating, etc. Hang it up between your weekly grocery visits.

Oh, and by the way, putting it on/taking it off carefully is critical. Once it's on, leave it on. Undo the ear cords and lift the mask directly away from your face, slowly. Don't slide it down on your chin, like some people do... Wash your hands before and immediately after using.

[OtayBW]

N95 mask will block 95% of particles greater than .3 microns.

Covid-19 is .1 micron but usually moves in aerosolized particles from 0.5 microns to 3 microns.

In the hospital we actually do fit testing to ensure the n95 actually fits properly and does not allow unfiltered air to enter around the edges with inhalation. If it doesn’t fit properly, it’s not effective.

We don’t have enough n95 masks in hospital to use them as recommended. So, many of us re use them as best we can with no real guidance from above other than we don’t recommend reusing. I store mine in a paper bag and hope that is good enough. Fortunately, since I work in a high risk profession intubating patients which is one of the most aerosolizing procedures performed in a hospital, we have PAPR hoods available which pump HEPA filtered air into the hood forcing air out around. These are thankfully reusable. Not many hospitals have these.

We really don’t have good evidence of what is really necessary. However, a person under investigation in one of the Asian countries early in the pandemic was cared for by 41 health care professionals using only a regular surgical mask (not n95) with the exception of anesthesiologist who used n95 for intubation. All used good hand hygiene. None of the health care professionals tested positive.

IMHO, the standard surgical mask works well to prevent you from aerosolizing your airway secretions onto others and nearby objects. Wear one to protect others. Help yourself by washing hands frequently and don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands. You’re going to get COVID from touching that package of chicken in Trader Joe’s that someone else contaminated before you got there. Maybe they coughed on it. Maybe they touched their mouth and touched it. The virus is there. Wash your freaking hands.

Please leave the n95 masks for your local health care professionals who have to spend hours in a room with a COVID positive patient who is coughing frequently and aerosolizing COVID into the room,

Bottom line, if you’ve got an used n95, fine re use it. If it’s new in package take it to the local hospital. They need it more than you. You can use a basic mask or even a bandana to minimize your aerosolizing of particles. Again, just wash your freaking hands.

And, yes, if you feel eyes burning holes in your head when your out with that n95, it’s probably the doctor or nurse who wishes they had an appropriate supply to use at work.

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

JonI agree....
...And THANK-YOU!

[RobJ]

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

Jon

Your feelings are warranted and there’s no reason to be apologizing to this crowd. Thanks for the good information as well.


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[mtechnica]

Some hospitals are telling nurses that they will be fired if they wear masks!

[Veloo]

I thought that was a typo.
'fraid not.
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/kaiser-permanente-nurses-coronavirus/



Some hospitals are telling nurses that they will be fired if they wear masks!

[mtechnica]

I thought that was a typo.
'fraid not.
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/kaiser-permanente-nurses-coronavirus/

I have a family member that’s a nurse, she has inside knowledge of several hospitals in WA state that has this policy right now.

[Hellgate]

n95 masks filter out 95% of all particles. If you don't seal it tight against your face any mask is useless. If you are really worried then I would get a military gas mask covering all of your mucus membranes including your eyes while ensuring a 100% seal around your face. You will look odd but that's the bomb proof way against the virus.Exactly. All a mask really does is prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, and it prevents sneeze vapor. Unless one has a military style mask that covers your eyes it is kind of pointless.

[peanutgallery]

In case you're bored

https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/heres-how-to-turn-jock-straps-into-diy-coronavirus-masks/

[gasman]

Sorry to take giant piss on your parade, but I’m just livid about the number of people I saw around town today with n95s when I know my colleagues at the hospital are doing without.

Jon

No need to apologize. Our society needs to protect everyone on the front lines and as a recently retired anesthesiologist I feel the same way !!!
I think of you and my colleagues I worked with and while the storm hasn't hit here yet I'm still concerned for everyone.

Right now our hospital is still taking care of urgent/emergent cases and each patient is treated as being C 19 positive. So, they need all the masks they can get as do you.

[mtechnica]

Exactly. All a mask really does is prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, and it prevents sneeze vapor. Unless one has a military style mask that covers your eyes it is kind of pointless.

The masks still help in general. The virus is in water droplets in the air. Pretty much any mask will stop most of those from getting into your mouth and nose. Even if some get though it will be less and your infection will begin with a lower viral load. And that’s not to mention it will stop infected people from spreading it around as much too.

To be honest the mask naysayers to me sound like climate change deniers and creationists at this point.

[Cbh]

With the recent guidance of wearing a mask I'm thinking about ordering something that I can use on a ride. I'm in Texas and it will be approaching 90 this coming week. I've seen some neck gaiters for fishing that are designed for sun protection and look like they are designed to go over your nose and mouth. Anyone have any experience with these? Wondering if they are worth it or if it's a crazy idea.

[mtechnica]

With the recent guidance of wearing a mask I'm thinking about ordering something that I can use on a ride. I'm in Texas and it will be approaching 90 this coming week. I've seen some neck gaiters for fishing that are designed for sun protection and look like they are designed to go over your nose and mouth. Anyone have any experience with these? Wondering if they are worth it or if it's a crazy idea.

I wouldn't wear one on a ride. Save it for when you have to go into a building with people in it, or stand in a line / group outdoors.

[AngryScientist]

my uneducated opinion is that seems to me like wearing one of these homemade masks, or any mask really may not be doing anyone any good.

any fluid will take the path of least resistance when moving, including air, so if the mask doesnt have a tight seal, it will leak, a lot.

the bigger issue, is that without proper training, and attention to detail, it seems if you are out and about, fiddling with the mask, taking it on and off, and general handling of the mask, which winds up against your face, might just negate the positive effects.

i concede that if you have the virus, a mask may help you to not spread it to others, but i see little practical benefit from a protection standpoint.

at this time - i'm not wearing a mask when i need to go to the food store or pick up curbside food. at this point, those are my only exposure avenues.

maybe i'll change my mind, but that's my thinking right now.

[CNY rider]

my uneducated opinion is that seems to me like wearing one of these homemade masks, or any mask really may not be doing anyone any good.

any fluid will take the path of least resistance when moving, including air, so if the mask doesnt have a tight seal, it will leak, a lot.

the bigger issue, is that without proper training, and attention to detail, it seems if you are out and about, fiddling with the mask, taking it on and off, and general handling of the mask, which winds up against your face, might just negate the positive effects.

i concede that if you have the virus, a mask may help you to not spread it to others, but i see little practical benefit from a protection standpoint.

at this time - i'm not wearing a mask when i need to go to the food store or pick up curbside food. at this point, those are my only exposure avenues.

maybe i'll change my mind, but that's my thinking right now.

Spot on.
People are confused on this issue I think.
Wearing a cloth mask when you go out isn't protecting YOU from anything.
It's hopefully stopping you from harming OTHERS if you are an asymptomatic shedder of virus.
It's blocking you from more widely distributing the virus in your respiratory secretions.

Again, to emphasize as well, hand to mucous membrane contact is a major way to spread this virus. So if you wear a cloth mask, and it gets damp and annoying and you're reaching up every 5 minutes to adjust it, touching your face and the surface of the mask in the process, you are making your personal risk of getting the virus higher, not lower.

[Irishgirl]

Disclaimer - I am not a doctor or expert on this subject of masks

As a regular human in this discussion my take on the effectiveness of masks considers a couple different perspectives...

There are significant amounts of communications/reports surrounding the asymptomatic group (despite the statements made by the Governor in Georgia- insert eye roll) and their transmission unknowingly of the virus. This group should wear masks...but how do you know? Simply you don’t.

Clearly those with the virus should not be out circulating around...but how do we know if it’s the virus without a positive test? Yes there are symptoms that strongly indicate you could most likely have it ...however without a positive test it’s a guess. This group should stay home and wear a mask around others and those living with a suspected case should stay home too and wear a mask if for any reason they need to step outside.

Soo without a positive test result that puts most of us in that uncertain category...unless you’ve been in self isolation with 100% no interaction with people/packages or even your mail.

I support health care and front line essential works wearing N95....if you have health concerns same thing...for the rest of us, IMHO, a face covering is a better offense and defense than nothing....or another option is to just stay home and be diligent with sanitizing mail/packages and washing your hands.


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[Veloo]

Another DIY. Texas A&M University.

https://enmed.tamu.edu/DIYmasks/

[Hellgate]

The masks still help in general. The virus is in water droplets in the air. Pretty much any mask will stop most of those from getting into your mouth and nose. Even if some get though it will be less and your infection will begin with a lower viral load. And that’s not to mention it will stop infected people from spreading it around as much too.



To be honest the mask naysayers to me sound like climate change deniers and creationists at this point.No, I'm a mask realist. Having spent 20 years in the Army, and countless hours training on NBC/CBRN (I'll let you look it up), unless one has a solid seal around the nose and mouth, and the eyes are protected, a rag will not do squat. Even with the touted N95 mask, a glorified painter's mask, it needs to be thrown out after each exposure and the user needs to decontaminate. About .5 seconds in a military gas chamber with CS gas will teach one this lesson very quickly.

Again, all a simple mask will do is prevent one from touching their nose and mouth, a reduce the vapor from a sneeze hitting another. It

[LJohnny]

No, I'm a mask realist. Having spent 20 years in the Army, and countless hours training on NBC/CBRN (I'll let you look it up), unless one has a solid seal around the nose and mouth, and the eyes are protected, a rag will not do squat. Even with the touted N95 mask, a glorified painter's mask, it needs to be thrown out after each exposure and the user needs to decontaminate. About .5 seconds in a military gas chamber with CS gas will teach one this lesson very quickly.

Again, all a simple mask will do is prevent one from touching their nose and mouth, a reduce the vapor from a sneeze hitting another. It



I am on this boat. Also, I have two little ones, and most masks are tailored for an adult face. Heck, i known people with narrow faces in the lab that have a hard time making sure a good tight fit is achieved, prompting the order of smaller sizes. These however are usually stocked in lower numbers because demand is much lower for these non-std sizes.

Also, no mask will work with any significant amount of facial hair. Now that masks are being promoted, CDC should do a PSA on how to properly fit a mask. Oh, wait, there are no masks to be had... Oh, the irony. Sad state of affairs for US. There will be revisioned history on the definition of ****-hole country.

[tuxbailey]

my uneducated opinion is that seems to me like wearing one of these homemade masks, or any mask really may not be doing anyone any good.

any fluid will take the path of least resistance when moving, including air, so if the mask doesnt have a tight seal, it will leak, a lot.

the bigger issue, is that without proper training, and attention to detail, it seems if you are out and about, fiddling with the mask, taking it on and off, and general handling of the mask, which winds up against your face, might just negate the positive effects.

i concede that if you have the virus, a mask may help you to not spread it to others, but i see little practical benefit from a protection standpoint.

at this time - i'm not wearing a mask when i need to go to the food store or pick up curbside food. at this point, those are my only exposure avenues.

maybe i'll change my mind, but that's my thinking right now.

But as seen in Asian countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore where wearing masks during flu season/endemic/pandemic does show a benefit of limiting the spread of contagious diseases.

You are right that an average person won't be well protected against this virus for wearing a clothed mask. But if everyone wears one, it ought to limit the spread of the disease.

[OtayBW]

I don't know that wearing a mask has ever touted as being a protection device, but I also think that there are a whole lotta people walking around now having been diagnosed with the COVID-19 who never knew that they had it....

[Jaybee]

No, I'm a mask realist. Having spent 20 years in the Army, and countless hours training on NBC/CBRN (I'll let you look it up), unless one has a solid seal around the nose and mouth, and the eyes are protected, a rag will not do squat. Even with the touted N95 mask, a glorified painter's mask, it needs to be thrown out after each exposure and the user needs to decontaminate. About .5 seconds in a military gas chamber with CS gas will teach one this lesson very quickly.

Again, all a simple mask will do is prevent one from touching their nose and mouth, a reduce the vapor from a sneeze hitting another. It

I rarely have to use it, but I’m also trained and fitted for a full face respirator and SCBA for hazmat emergency response. Tipped over train cars full of hydrochloric acid and that sort of thing. You’re correct that the types of masks currently being pushed and the lack of training to use them won’t protect anybody from a toxic gas or high load aerosol situation. But that’s not what we are typically dealing with here. The issue here is keeping your mucousal secretions away from other people’s mouth nose eyes, and vice versa.

It makes sense to me that even a bandana helps, because it catches your sneeze or cough better than just your elbow, and it also keeps you from touching your face. Getting infected by a virus is a numbers game. The right part of a virus has to find the right cell type so the receptors match. Decreasing the total number of viral particles that escape from your mouth or nose and limiting the amount of times you touch it will decrease the chances of that happening.

[mtechnica]

The only reason the CDC etc... aren’t strongly recommending, or saying you have to wear a mask, is because there aren’t nearly enough of them around even for medical workers. The reason the medical workers want them is because they work. If everyone wore masks, basically like in South Korea and Japan, it would significantly slow the spread of the disease - all else being equal.

[cat6]

my uneducated opinion is that seems to me like wearing one of these homemade masks, or any mask really may not be doing anyone any good.

any fluid will take the path of least resistance when moving, including air, so if the mask doesnt have a tight seal, it will leak, a lot.

the bigger issue, is that without proper training, and attention to detail, it seems if you are out and about, fiddling with the mask, taking it on and off, and general handling of the mask, which winds up against your face, might just negate the positive effects.

i concede that if you have the virus, a mask may help you to not spread it to others, but i see little practical benefit from a protection standpoint.

at this time - i'm not wearing a mask when i need to go to the food store or pick up curbside food. at this point, those are my only exposure avenues.

maybe i'll change my mind, but that's my thinking right now.

The ask of the mask isn't to just protect you it's to prevent you from potentially spreading. We're learning more and more how many of us are asymptomatic carriers.

You can't put a mask on your face inside your car and then not fiddle with it until after you sanitize your hands from your errands? If it's a challenge you may want to practice because it's not that hard and can help keep you and others healthy.

SoCalSteve posted a really great YouTube video that went into some detail on this. Go watch it.

[tuscanyswe]

The ask of the mask isn't to just protect you it's to prevent you from potentially spreading. We're learning more and more how many of us are asymptomatic carriers.

You can't put a mask on your face inside your car and then not fiddle with it until after you sanitize your hands from your errands? If it's a challenge you may want to practice because it's not that hard and can help keep you and others healthy.

SoCalSteve posted a really great YouTube video that went into some detail on this. Go watch it.


Sure there are asymptomatic carriers but these are not as contagious as it is the symptoms that also spread the dicease. Cough sneeze runny nose etc. Without those u can still spread the virus ofc but not as likely. A point worth mentioning at least.

That said ofc masks are good if handled appropriately.

[cat6]

Sure there are asymptomatic carriers but these are not as contagious as it is the symptoms that also spread the dicease. Cough sneeze runny nose etc. Without those u can still spread the virus ofc but not as likely. A point worth mentioning at least.

That said ofc masks are good if handled appropriately.

I don't really understand your reply. You're like- yeah healthy people can spread it but sick people spread it more.

Yes! That's known and why everyone should be wearing masks when in public, because the sick might not think they are sick and stopping that nose wiping and sneezing in public will help slow the spread.

[tuscanyswe]

I don't really understand your reply. You're like- yeah healthy people can spread it but sick people spread it more.

Yes! That's known and why everyone should be wearing masks when in public, because the sick might not think they are sick and stopping that nose wiping and sneezing in public will help slow the spread.

I Thought i made a valid point as to not spread even more panic in Our society.

[CNY rider]

You can't put a mask on your face inside your car and then not fiddle with it until after you sanitize your hands from your errands? If it's a challenge you may want to practice because it's not that hard and can help keep you and others healthy.



Here's a fun little experiment that, for now, will have to done in our heads rather than with real observations:

Observe your local grocery store for an hour, watching people who are wearing masks. When one of them sneezes, see if they reach up and touch their mask or their face within the next minute.
What's the over/under on how many out of 10 touch their face or their mask? I bet it's at least 6. You want the under or the over?

So I remain a skeptic on the benefit of having the American public wearing masks.

[mtechnica]

Touching your face or the mask doesn’t automatically make any benefit of the mask go away though. You guys are way too black and white about it, and don’t sound like you understand viral loads and droplets.

[CNY rider]

Touching your face or the mask doesn’t automatically make any benefit of the mask go away though. You guys are way too black and white about it, and don’t sound like you understand viral loads and droplets.

I’m not black and white about it, rather pointing out the shades of grey involved in this policy.

Does a mask policy make sense in the NYC subway? Probably does.
How about in my rural grocery store which is never crowded and where people distance themselves? I’m not so sure. I don’t really want a COVID carrier fidgeting with their damp mask, then picking through the apple bin a minute before I get there and start selecting apples.

Plus @Angry is a really sharp guy and I hope that I learned a thing or two in medical school so ignore us at your own intellectual peril.

[cat6]

Plus @Angry is a really sharp guy and I hope that I learned a thing or two in medical school so ignore us at your own intellectual peril.

I see. Heed the advice of some guys on the bike forum instead of the CDC and the doctors and scientists that are studying this within our state and federal health departments. What arrogance. Good luck all.

[mtechnica]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usnews.com/news/best-states/california/articles/2020-04-05/california-county-orders-all-residents-to-wear-masks%3fcontext=amp

Soon this will be most places IMO

[tuxbailey]

To me, even though wearing a simple mask is not an effective measure for us at an individual level, if everyone wears a mask in a social setting will be a net gain in this battle.

[grateful]

Just a random thought, would DWR water repellent on fabric provide any benefit?

[Irishgirl]

Just a random thought, would DWR water repellent on fabric provide any benefit?


Interesting...I like the thought...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tony]

I’m not black and white about it, rather pointing out the shades of grey involved in this policy.

Does a mask policy make sense in the NYC subway? Probably does.
How about in my rural grocery store which is never crowded and where people distance themselves? I’m not so sure. I don’t really want a COVID carrier fidgeting with their damp mask, then picking through the apple bin a minute before I get there and start selecting apples.

Plus @Angry is a really sharp guy and I hope that I learned a thing or two in medical school so ignore us at your own intellectual peril.

From what I'm experiencing people are NOT doing a good job of distancing themselves in grocery stores, wearing a mask will help.

Also, you may want to act as if all produce is contaminated with the virus and wash with soap and water.

[charliedid]

Just a random thought, would DWR water repellent on fabric provide any benefit?

I'm not sure we want to breath that stuff?

Dunno

[grateful]

What, the DWR or Covid-19???

[RFC]

Here is a good article about DIY masks. I wear something like this when I go to the grocery.

https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-homemade-mask-material-DIY-face-mask-ppe.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Health

[wernerherzogsid]

I have embraced the concept of wearing masks. It is as much a public health necessity as it is a blooming sense of self expression.

Like the Mexican lucha libre, where professional wrestlers wear masks to both conceal their identity, sublimating it for a character, and projecting an image to the crowd to make the heroes and villains immediately identifiable in their athletic soap opera, masks will allow all people a form of expression lost in our modern times.

I personally like to pretend I am a cowboy riding through open fields, much like a film about the American Old West I saw when I was a school boy in Munich.